I mark possibly triggering scenes with "***".
Since the kids are on the lookout for corrupt cops, bad apples are naturally found. I have tried to write many different variations/justifications, so I can't tease out exactly what's coming. Tend to be something like, harassment, violence etc.
So if you want to be sure just skip to the next scene. I personally don't think it's really bad anywhere. Definitely not as bad as sink or swim.


Birdy stood up from her chair. And started to pack up her stuff. The book pencil case her notebook. Nature class had just ended and Professor PPalladium already sorted his papers for the next class, "We should just ask him…" She nudged Snow in the side as all her things were in her bag.

"No that's weird…" Snow shook her head, she was waiting on her as the others already left for Zyron's monster class.

"But how else are we going to be sure," She argued with Snow quietly yet somewhat audible.

"Problem?" Professor Palladium stepped towards the girls, "You should hurry so you won't be late for Professor Zyron's class."

"Well, yes and no, we saw - it's just…" Snow was too shy to ask.

Birdy shook her head, "We saw your first-year photo and well, the year after that. When the Winx were still in school… you looked a lot - different, Professor."

'Oh, boy, when was the last time someone asked me about that…' Palladium chuckled, "Oh, that, well I went on a teacher transformation, it's an Elf thing. Don't break your heads over it. Or would you say I looked better, back then?" He smirked. The girls blushed instantly as all had done before them when he made that joke. "That is what you were wondering, right?"

Snow already turned on her heels ready to pull Birdy along. This was so embarrassing.

"Oh, so that is how it was, my apologies for bothering you, Professor," Birdy gave a picture-perfect curtsy.

"Not at all, it's a good thing to be curious. It's only natural, now, hop, hop, on your way, before you are late," Palladium shooed them off. 'Teenagers always the same with them…' He chuckled to himself.


Blade entered the Office, "You wanted to see me?" She hid a yawn it was early afternoon. The Headmistress's Office was as clean and orderly as ever. Not a single thing was out of place.

Griselda nodded to Faragonda and passed Blade by after a short nod to her as well and a risen eyebrow she had heard that yawn. But she didn't comment on it her scorching stare was enough to send a shiver down the young's Fairy spine.

"Yes, Blade," Faragonda stood up and moved to the windows to oversee the school grounds. Where the young Fairies she guided were laughing chatting or doing homework.

"How can I be of service?" Blade asked straight away, 'So after this meeting… got to write the reports to put them into our bot so the rest of the class has a text each… then I gotta run the parkour I skipped this morning… I should listen to the audio files I created as I run to catch up on the chapters and…'

"Blade?" Faragonda looked at her concerned. 'She's so chaotic these days. Shanna said not to worry but… I just have to give her this chance. Make it clear to her…' She stepped away from the windows.

"Yes?" Blade refocused on her Headmistress.

Faragonda stared at her with that piercing gaze, "Is everything alright? If there is anything that is bothering you…"

"No. All good," Blade smiled, 'Fuck, what did she ask before? …ahhhhh.'

'All good? You are tired, grades slipping, whole class is… and she still hasn't finished with Shanna to work on… on… What did I do? I should never have…' Faragonda adjusted her glasses, "Blade, do you really want to do this?"

"Heh?" Blade blinked confused, "Do what? I assure you, there is nothing bothering me. All is good," She squinted her eyes she was tired and this riddle speech was the last thing she needed right now.

Faragonda didn't believe her, 'All is good? Nothing is good she got attacked, again.' She cleared her throat to be a bit more direct as Blade was not getting her point at all, "I meant being a Fairy."

Blade took a few seconds, she wasn't sure that she had heard right, "Wait, what? Of course, I want to be a Fairy – no, I am a Fairy. Why would you even ask that!?" She got a bit pissed and tensed up.

'Of course, she is as stubborn as ever. Has she even considered other options, saver options...?' Faragonda stayed silent and breathed in deeply, "It most likely won't get easier. More dangerous in fact. I know, we, I, dragged you into this and you had next to no magical knowledge, besides the very basics…"

"Did I do something wrong?" Blade's mind was racing. 'Does she think I am still sleeping badly? But we all are tired…where is that all coming from?!' Her mood was switching from panic to anger forth and back. She didn't have the concentration to stay calm not when she was exhausted like this.

"No, well, hmmm, there are things that…but that is beside the point right now," Faragonda stopped herself from scolding the young girl. This was more important. "Are you sure you want to follow this path? You have a million other options. Not to mention you are the heir to Lunasteel. You are a great Fairy, you have the heart of one, I know this to be true, but being a Fairy is not about magic, it's about attitude, the will to do the right thing, to fight the good fight. I want you to understand you can be a Fairy without being a Fairy." Faragonda addressed the problem, 'I chose her, not fate, and she constantly…'

Blade tried her hardest to stay composed, "Why would I choose differently? I wouldn't have come to Alfea in the first place if there was no appeal at all to me. Not to mention that I will not leave my friends behind. There is much to do; police, traitors, Red Crystals… I won't let them fight this alone. Never." She stated firmly not a spark of doubt in her mind. 'What is this!?'

Faragonda still eyed her closely, "They are not alone, even if you were to leave. You have to understand that. We have their backs, the Council as well. This is not your burden to bare, don't push yourself." She felt as if she wasn't getting through to that stubborn Fairy. 'Fairies… I should be proud and yet, this life, this duty costs so much. Is it truly right for a commoner, so weak in magic, to pay such a price? Has she not endured enough already?'

"Headmistress?" Blade asked again, she had not gotten a response before and this second-guessing was really annoying, rude even to her.

"Yes?" Now it was Faragonda who was ripped from her thoughts and hadn't listened.

"Are you alright? Anything bothering you?" Blade mirrored her. 'Neat trick, Shanna does that all the time…so annoying.' She could see that Faragonda shared that sentiment. "Come on, be direct for once." She added this was taking too long, she had so much still to do.

Faragonda chuckled slightly before she got deadly serious, "Very well, Blade. You don't have to be a Fairy. There are many ways to help your friends, to fight the fight. No one would hold it against you if you were to leave. You faced a lot of horrors, don't push yourself. You can help your friends in safer ways. You might fall off a cliff someday and-"

'Seriously, that's her problem, not mine, what the fuck!?' Blade growled dissatisfied, "STOP," Blade cut her off harshly. "I might not be the Fairy of the Dragonflame. And yes, I rather not had those encounters, I wish Jewels was still alive, that I could have saved her. I wish I'd be stronger, a noble. And at times I do feel like I am not enough, that it is pointless. But quite frankly what gives nobility, like you, the right to hog pain?" She ground her teeth and clenched her fists.

"Blade, I am just concerned," Faragonda tried to calm her, just to get interrupted again.

"No. You are scared to have made a mistake. That's not my problem. There is so much that can go wrong in life even if there are no magical threats to face. Sorceresses are commoners too. Yes, by now there are bloodlines as well with more power. But who do you think you are deciding who has a right to fight at the frontlines or not? Why is it okay for my classmates to be faced with those horrors but not me?!" Blade raised her voice. She and Dusk had talked much about it. After all Blade's spot at Alfea had been offered to Dusk first and she had declined to not end up some pawn in a test. Dusk still warned her at times about it.

"Hog pain? Blade that's not - There is a limit to what a person can endure," Faragonda tried to get a word in and stepped closer to the girl calmly.

Yet Blade went in a few steps charging at her, "And nobility can endure more? Bullshit! This might be just a test trial for you, to see if commoners can become Fairies nonetheless their lacking aptitude for magic. To me, this is the life I CHOSE."

Faragonda was surprised, to say the least, 'She knows? How? When?! Griffin would not trouble her with that pressure, not our Professors. But then who…did she figure that out herself?' She was caught totally off guard. She had made sure no one talked with Blade of her being at Alfea was a test run for greater plans. "I'm not saying that-"

"You don't have to. It's obvious by you wavering. Don't you dare lie straight into my face," Blade had it. This was ridiculous. "I am not some guinea pig you can just throw away and say case closed. I'll find another school. I'll study magic myself if I have to. You won't take this away from me, because YOU GOT SCARED. Life is harsh. People die, that's the only certainty in life." Blade was furious. That fire in her eyes. Her dreadlocks like a lion's mane had fallen to the front.

"Blade," Faragonda was a bit overwhelmed being on the receiving end of one of Blade's rampages from the outside that always had seemed much more manageable. "You're not a Guinee pig…"

"Of course, I am, this is a test trial! So, what? I get to do what I love, I do things because of my own volition!" She gestured around wildly before she clicked her tongue. "Tch. If I wanted to leave I already had. I don't face pain just for the fun of it. Stop avoiding the fact that it is YOU who has the problem here." She just paused for a moment to catch her breath. "Seriously, the nerve, if you, Headmistress, have no actual question for me I bid you a good day," Blade turned around and ripped the door open and smashed it shut. Just to storm off and leave a speechless Faragonda behind.


_:_***_:_

"You didn't think you can fool me, now did you?" The Officer laid a tide grip on Gilliana. He grinned at her widely while he clicked the anti-magic cuffs around her wrists as He pressed her against the cold stone wall of the side alley.

Tessa sighed as she was hiding up on the rooftops with the others and sat down she was exhausted, "He didn't go for Serina at all… from the prior reports I was sure he wouldn't care who the true culprit is…He really made the effort and chased Gilliana down."

"Ah, so we got to glamour again as Specalists and bust her out…" Snow complained annoyed. "We've been running all over town with no results today." She pouted and rubbed her eyes.

Julius smiled at her, "Well, that's how the world works. How the Police should work. At least he arrested the right Sorceress," His neck was stiff as well, so he massaged it shortly.

"Yeah, but in the grand picture we are really successful," Tyson reminded them all and yawned.

Serina just came through the staircase door on the rooftop, "Why is the magic dome still up?" She pointed upwards at the barrier Ararel had erected to hide their presence and noises. Irritated she looked at the elven Wizard his expression was deadly. "What's wrong?"

Ararel morphed into the image of Gilliana, "Shit. One of those." He had not diverted his gaze from the scene like the kids and was still on high alert.

"What do you say, pretty? It's a fair trade. We have some quick fun and I forget what you did here," The Officer pushed Gilliana against the wall he had turned her around to face him. At first, she stayed calm but not a second later Gilliana lost her cool. She was squirming trying to get lost on her own yet failed. He came in real close to press his lips on hers.

"Phantasm," Ararel fired from his two fingers a small glittering ball at the Officer from behind and dashed down out of the barrier.

The Officer watched in disbelief as the Witch he had caught turned to water in front of him and the cuffs clanked to the ground in the same moment as something hit him in his back. "WHAT THE?!" He turned around and saw the Witch up in the air. "How did you!?"

"Escape? You never caught me, asshole. You suck at your job so much, there's no way I'd suck your dick. See ya," Ararel, morphed as Gilliana dashed away to the main street.

"HEY WAIT! FREEZE! SHIT!" Hurriedly the Officer raced after the escaping Witch.

Shakenly Gilliana herself sank to the ground. Ararel had enchanted the Officer just in time, her breath sped up beside the fact the danger was over, "What the fuck…" She looked to the crossroads where Ararel vanished with the Officer around a corner.

Serina, Tessa and Snow dashed down to her, "You okay?!" They like the boys were shocked, to say the least.

"Girls, quick! Up here! The partner is just around the corner!" Julius singed hastily as he stuck his head out of the barrier. They all scrambled under the shield and carried Gilliana.

"Why did you wait so long!?" Gilliana hissed at her friends. This had freaked her out she kept rubbing her lips to clean them despite the fact that the guy hadn't touched them. She was so glad that Tyson took the damn cuffs off. She scrubbed her wrists as if she was holding them under water distraught.

"I'm…sorry, I," Tessa had no excuse. Neither did the rest.

Ararel landed next to them already, "Gilliana if something is too much for you are supposed to give the signal and you five the job is done when everyone is back safe." He scolded them all. The students evaded his stern gaze. Ararel paused shortly. "You alright?" He addressed Gilliana gently.

"Yeah…" Gilliana balled her fists. 'Fuck.'

"Don't use this to push your limits, stunts like that get you hurt. There is nothing useful to experience there. It won't help Blade or you," Ararel had seen right through her stupid reasoning of not defending herself when she still could have and she hadn't been the only student he had worked with to go over her limits within the task force. "You can't build a thick skin for assaults. Do that again and I stuff you in prison myself since you are so eager to understand Blade's experience, oh, so deeply. Want me to beat the shit out of you so the experience fits to the tee?" Ararel wouldn't have it he was truly angry yet not erratically. With a sigh, he changed to a gentler tone, "Kids, I understand, and yes the more we can prove the harder their sentence will be. But you all still have to live a life after this and sleep sound at night." He shook his head in thought this eagerness was a real problem.

Gilliana already regretted her decision, "Yes, Eques…" She lowered her gaze and stared at the ground.

Ararel looked at all the kids, "That's it. Go home." He ordered sternly.

"But we," Tyson tried to reason, "You can't bench us for the operation! It was one mistake."

"Yes, that shows me you are tired and exhausted. Go home, get rest. You all are unfit for duty. There are enough teams that can swap out," He explained with a harsh tone yet not aggressively.

"But! – Wait, swap out? You mean?" Julius wanted to help make their case.

Ararel laughed amused as only now he noticed the misunderstanding, "Ha, you youngsters make so many mistakes we, guards, can play bingo. Our orders are to supervise and train you, if we'd bench you for every childish mistake we'd be doing this all alone by ourselves already. Take a break. The plan is to check every Officer, there are more than enough left. So, go home and no stupid 'We'll prove to him'-acts, is that clear?" He stared them down. "I can indeed bench you for the rest of the operation if I see the need for it."

"Yes…Eques Ararel…" They all sighed, yet relieved, and watched him jump down the rooftop to land softly and walk back to the Headquarters.


That elf today… he was so picky, aahhh ~Emyln

Which one? ~Marble

HA, HA ~Emyln

Can anyone hold them apart at all? ~Steela

Nope ~Sienna

'Chatroom was renamed: nope'

Pffffff ~TheKeiller

Denied, we are not calling ourselves The Nope… ~Birdy

'Chatroom was renamed: denied'

Oh, come on girls not this renaming again… ~More-curry

'Chatroom was renamed: not again'

Good one! ~Lara

I know right ~Marble

No, denied! ~Sienna

I agree, denied! ~Dusk

'Chatroom was renamed: denied'

'?Elf entered the chat'

GO TO BED! STOP TORTURING THE CHAT NAME ~?Elf

HA! Seems like Elves have not only a special connection with nature ~Marble

Yeah, now it's electronics too ~Lara

Fine have it your way… ~?Elf

'Lara got banned for five hours'

'Marble got banned for five hours'

'More-curry got banned for five hours'

'Sienna got banned for five hours'

'Dusk got banned for five hours'

'Birdy got banned for five hours'

'Steela got banned for five hours'

But we didn't do anything!? ~TheKeiller

'TheKeiller got banned for five hours'

Hostile takeover! ~Emyln

'Emyln got banned for five hours'

To arms! ~Vulcano

YEAHHH! ~Polarissa

What's going on? Do you know how late it is… ~ChaosLord

'All users were banned for five hours'

Ahhh, finally some peace… ~?Elf

'BossAlpha entered the chatroom'

What are you doing Sarlen? ~BossAlpha

Sending our kids to bed. ~?Elf

Hmm… ~BossAlpha

The renaming again? They should have decided from the start… ~BossAlpha

'Chatroom was renamed: ElvesRule'

Ha, nice ~?Elf

You can't get rid of me that easily! I have Admin rights! ~Marble

And denied! ~Marble

QUIET! SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SLEEP! ~BossOmega

'Chatname was renamed: MY-word-IS-FINAL!'

Yes, Sir! ~?Elf

Yes, Master ~BossAlpha


"Alright, and till next time, read chapters twenty-three and twenty-four," Avalon finished the philosophy class as a moan went through the students, 'They are still tired… how much are they studying in the big library in Magix? I know Shanna said not to worry and they made a huge study group…that gets off track sometimes but… They go there so often…' He pondered shortly. "Any questions?"

"Yes," Tessa was ready to go.

"No…" Dahlia shook her head, "Just drop it already…"

"Hmm?" Avalon rose an eyebrow.

"But I want to know," Tessa stared at him, "Professor Avalon, what is a teacher transformation?"

Avalon laughed out once, "Why didn't you ask Palladium?" He sighed relaxed. "The teacher transformation is a ritual Elves can undergo to enhance their capabilities. It increases the magic pool. Due to that fact, as you all should have learned last year, the body must adapt so it can hold the newly acquired power. In this case, it's secured through permanent body transformation. You, as Fairies, on the other hand, gain a different Fairy transformation. The teacher transformation an ancient elven ritual only a few are granted for their great deeds. Palladium earned the right when he helped defend Aflea from the Army of Darkness."


GRRRRRR, seriously, why did we ask the Elves for help!? ~Polarissa

What's wrong? ~Dusk

I just want to punch that stupid shit of an Officer until - such a dick …arrrrrgghgh ~Polarissa

Uhhh, one of those huh… ~Zena

Just let me have at them, just once, by the stupid Dragon, I swear ~Polarissa

We understand. Don't be discouraged. I know it feels more satisfying, short-term. ~BossAlpha

SO WHY AREN'T WE!? ~Polarissa

Because that won't keep us safe… ~BladeMaster

Blade…I… urgh, I just, they are so… ~Polarissa

Come over, we can do some sparring ~Dahlia

Yeah! I'm in ~Lilith

My squad has some time as well see ya at the lake? ~FinishTHEM

Be careful, don't hurt yourselves…pls. Remember the joined training at Red Fountain is soon ~BossAlpha

Pikass cleared his throat, "Well, as announced today we'll discuss how to improve the Witches' public image."

"SORCERESSES!" The whole class screamed back at him.

"Ladies, Ladies," Professor Pikass tried to calm the crowd. "The title is part of this discussion not to worry. But publicly-"

"Who cares! They are people too! Equality for everyone!" Tessa shouted from her belly.

"YEAH!"

Professor Pikass was a bit overwhelmed, "Now. now, let's discuss this civilised…"

"NO MORE WORDS!" Nebula hollered.

Blade stamped with her foot on the table, "MORE ACTIONS!"

"Right!" Rise used her magic and some handwritten banners appeared.

Birdy took a banner, "This is a strike!"

"This is a walkout!" Sienna shouted and the whole class picked up the rest of the banners and stormed out into the courtyard.

"…What? ..." Pikass stood in an empty classroom now those girls had run off so fast. "Theory into practice…I guess… how am I supposed to grade this…" He looked outside the window where the class had stampeded out to, but as soon as they had found a sunny spot they all rammed their banners into the ground and dozed off. 'We won't move or talk till we all are equal!' The biggest banner stated in bright colours. "You got to be kidding me…they prepared so they can slack off?!" Pikass was flabbergasted.


"I am sorry, Ms, but it wasn't the Witch who stole the bracelet. She simply walked by," The Officer stood in the way of the young Fairy.

"What?! I clearly saw-" The young black-haired Fairy protested vehemently.

The Witch glared at the Fairy, "Snob, well, I'm on my way then." The Witch pulled the bracelet out of her outer bag pocket, chucked it to the Officer and turned on her heels and left.

"You can't possibly just let her walk off like that!" The Fairy complained.

The Officer shook his head, "Well, did you see by any chance, who stuffed that bracelet into her bag?" He looked sternly at the Fairy as he lowered his little digital notepad.

"No…" Nimue evaded his gaze and played with her hair, 'Ahhh, sorry Iolas. We couldn't nail him…'

"Was it by any chance you?" Officer Clayton asked the around teenage Fairy.

Nimue stemmed her hands into her hips, "As if, did you see me do it? No. How can you defend someone like that…" She hissed dismissively.

Clayton laughed, "No, I didn't see it. But this is not the way to deal with Witches, Milady." He had a weird way of saying it even when he laughed. "Well then have a nice day," he walked back into the shop to bring the stolen bracelet to the shop owner and discussed it over but even the cameras didn't show anything.

Nimue flew away and met up on the rooftop in question, "This is ridiculous… how many more of these stupid rouses do we need to do till that man bites the bait. We did like five and you said you already did another thirteen on other days."

Iolas sighed, "I don't know…" This was so vexing.

"How did I do?" Elaine met up with them. "I thought we had him this time… But I couldn't find any magical item that could have detected us. Are you sure he is an evil guy? I thought chat rules stated not to endlessly hunt and to hold no grudges. I didn't have time to read his file though."

Virion growled, "Very sure. He is just super cautious… that hearing has him spooked."

"What exactly was that hearing about?" Nimue raised an eyebrow as she transformed back into her Sirenix. "And yes, you did fine, Curate Elaine. I also didn't sense any aura of a magical item."

Haldir was last to join them on the rooftops. He had been a customer in the store, "He asked for eyewitnesses… all by the book," He noticed Nimue's Sirenix, "That's different…"

Elaine smirked, "Well, Legi Nimue, specialises in Sirenix. So, this is an altered form." Her colleague was as always in her blue-greenish Sirenix outfit with a leaf skirt and her White Jade headpiece. An impressive sight as ever.

"Oh, you never have seen her Sirenix?" Iolas was a bit surprised, "It's like the Crystal Sirenix form the Winx Club members," Iolas eyed Nimue who slowly morphed back to her original size and age, closely. "Come to think of it, I never asked, did I? To what did your Sirenix adapt to, Legi Nimue?"

"Ah, that should be obvious, Eques Iolas, our White Jade Headquarters of course, my cleansing magic is much more powerful in Sirenix due to this, than in my Enchantix. We have more than enough bodies of water there to make good use of it," Nimue stretched her arms. "So, what was his evil deed? You, people, are way too worked up about this, especially you, Eques Iolas."

"I'm not," Iolas dismissed the notion yet the White Jade Fairy did not believe him at all. He sighed, "I hate aura reading… The Sorceress that got arrested in the raid a few weeks back got hurt really badly. That Officer is one of the reasons why. So, yes, we are sure. But if he truly can't distinguish fake from the real thing… why is he not going into the net?" Iolas was truly bothered by it, they had sent so many teams on different days and yet every effort had been fruitless.

"Hm, that Lucia girl?" Nimue asked out of the blue and with her aura reading she easily could see through the trained Elf guards. 'So that's why they brought a full grown-up team to the occasion. He was one of those who hurt Avalon's student, Blade, when she was on her missions. Argh, vexing, Avalon still is so heartbroken about it. Something must have happened, more than the usual and Eques Iolas has the same aura vibe, not to mention Zhoron... They are leaving half the truth out. Damn it, sorry Val, I'll do better next time, promise...' She rubbed her chin slightly as she recalled it all. "I wouldn't say Clayton isn't falling for it. His aura is flaring in hate whenever he looked at you, Curate Elaine. He does hate Witches, no doubt about it. It's more… how to phrase this best…"

The White Jade Witch nodded, "I'd say like a cat ready to pounce. Waiting…" Elaine agreed.

"Waiting? Waiting for what?" Virion asked directly.

"I agree. Well, we are no Psi-users and he keeps it bottled-up, so if you were to pry he would most likely notice," Nimue clicked her tongue. "Sorry, you just got to keep trying eventually he'll make a mistake. He definitely thinks of himself all high and might and there was some evil intent in his aura, though he thinks it's justified…"

"You got all that from those few seconds?" Haldir was impressed. Normally they only met White Jade members for cleansing rituals against Black magic. Not for spy work.

"Ha, I'm not some Curate like, Val, I mean Professor Avalon," Nimue laughed out loud.

"Hey!" Elaine complained and pouted.

"Sorry, my dear," Nimue chuckled still a bit as she brushed her black hair back.

"You know him on a personal level?" Iolas asked surprised. Their Order wasn't small either after all.

"Oh, yes, me, Gwaine and Avalon were an Initiate team. Back then, we thought our dear Professor would become Order master in no time. But, well, the only thing he likes more than studying magic is teaching it. He learned all the abilities from White Jade he needed to be an outstanding teacher and then he made his case with the Grandmaster and off he was to Malacoy Academy… ah, the days. Well, now I outrank him and of course, am way better than him in aura reading as well," she smirked to herself satisfied.

Elaine frowned, "You sure?"

Nimue puffed half-offended, "He is only really good in reading teenagers. That doesn't count as skill, that's a specialisation. He can't even get a read on Headmistress Faragonda."

"Ha," Virion laughed, "And you do? That woman…"

"Tuff nut, I know," Nimue breathed out deeply, "Well, we spent all the extra time we had with you. We got to get going before Grandmaster Percival sends the cavalry in search of us."

"Thanks for coming, Legi Nimue, Curate Elaine, and remember no word to-" Iolas reminded the two ladies sternly.

Nimue grinned, "And spoil the fun? HA! I want to see his face when Val realises I knew before him and what his students were up to. Chehehehe." She was enjoying this too much. "Ooh, Gwaine will be so pouty… hmm maybe we can lend him to you as well... Anyways, give us a call. Good luck and catch that weirdo soon," both women jumped into the air and flew off to the teleporter station.

"That was…hmmm…" Haldir wasn't sure what to do with that kind of information he never asked for.

"She has one good rivalry with him, I'd say," Virion shook his head. "She always comes off as so rule abiding but mention the Professor and everything's out of the window."

Iolas chuckled before he sighed, "Indeed, well let's go back to Headquarters. I need to finish the rest of the paperwork from today…"

"Ha!" Haldir laughed amused, "Nerrocean is truly skipping out on that. Has he even done one report?"

"No.- Nerrocean keeps asking for his coffee at four in the morning, though…" Iolas rolled his eyes a bit annoyed.

"I thought it was MASTER Nerrocean to you," Virion snorted.

Iolas glared at his head healer and simply dashed off at full speed leaving them in the dust and shockwave.

"Ahhh, now you upset him," Haldir laughed so hard.


BladeMaster Okay, what do I need to pack? Or buy? Do I need a sword? ~Lilith

Pack? Sword? ~Nebula

You mean for the joined training? ~BladeMaster

Duh, what else? ~Vulcano

Ladies chill… we got you covered ~KaiThe Awesome

So how many favours will it cost us? Or fee or whatever? ~Breeze

Cost you? People it's a joined training, not some seminar ~BossMan

So? ~Zena

It is covered by taxes ~?Elf

Pfff, rich nobles…spending our money…so it does cost us…. ~Marble

No, it doesn't. It's tax money from the Yaggdronus Order which is entirely paid by Yaggdrasor ~BossAlpha

Wait so the elves pay for everything? Do we owe favours to elves?! ~Polarissa

What kind of favours do you request in return normally? ~Zena

None… ~ ?Elf

What do you mean none? …sounds fishy… ~ Serina

Guys, guys, there actually is a thing like "for free" with the high and mighty, they have the money for it ~Kitty

They are -THAT- RICH!? ~ Steela

Where have you been living? ~?Elf2

Is that true? Blademaster ~Mary

Yes ~BladeMaster

Do we need to bring rations though? ~BladeMaster

Nope, all on me! ~BossOmega

WHAT?! ~Roar

REALLY?! Now for sure, I'll become a hunter… Roar, Lion you should join me xD ~More-curry

That's insane. Nah, I can't see my sunshine in Court then ~Roar

3 Yeah, hands off! Get your own boyfriend! ~Rise

Since when? I thought… ~BossAlpha

I put my newest game card to good use and Votzaak lost so barbecue is on me. Ahahaha, should have seen his face! Priceless ~BossOmega

I saw it, he was grumpy as shit today… ~#AAdmin

So, Iolas add to your tasks to order meat and stuff ~BossOmega

But… Today I was to catch up on the reports. We are way behind… ~BossAlpha

Well then, work faster Elf ~BossOmega

… Yes. ~ BossAlpha

That's: Yes, Master to you ~BossOmega

Uuuh, burn, I want Andronian shrimps by the way ~ChaosLord

We can order?! NICE! I want Solarian pudding! ~Serina

Lynphean flower salad is godly! ~Dahlia

I want steak, a lot of it! ~KaiTheAwesome

Nobody said that you can order. ~BossAlpha

MAKE IT SO! I take Dublarian tarts, with chocolate chips and raspberries ~BossOmega

I'll make a thread :D ~#AAdmin

Uh, uh, Radgonlian shellfish! ~?Elf

Please order here *link* ~#AAdmin

AWESOME! I want..hmm… ~Birdy

Lumen stardust milkshakes ~?Elf2

'BossAlpha logged off'


Blade walked along the Council Headquarters hallways. She had a little chit-chat with Amal and spent her lunchtime with him and now she was on her way to Nerrocean's office since Iolas and his team were occupying it for the time being unless it was Fridays and Nerrocean needed to use the office. 'Shit, this box is heavy…' Blade stared at all the extra game cards. They had bought so many to find Nerrocean's special card and for some reason, Iolas's team had requested her to bring all those extras she could spare. She knocked with her foot against the door as the box was so heavy.

"Come in," Iolas's voice resounded from inside.

Blade opened the door with her elbow, "Hello, busy as ever I see…" she greeted him before her gaze wandered to his squad sitting all around the couch table playing the card game in question.

"And my Dragon will use fire breath!" Tolith shouted out as he turned his card.

"With my trap card Werefox trickster I'll-" Keryth was ready to defend himself.

"And I block your trickster with my mystery spell card which lures your Werefox trickster away and renders your trap card useless for this round," Thallan grinned cheekily as he fist-bumped Tolith.

Ararel laughed out loud, "But that's nothing against my reflect defence spell card! With which I can protect a monster of my choosing and you say goodbye to your fire breath my friend, your dragon burned himself."

"Yeah, nice safe," Keryth grinned superiorly, "You are screwed now."

"Uhhhh," Blade stared at the table, 'Why are they playing with four people? It's a duel game, one o' one…'

"Ahh, hey there. - And no funny business till I am back at the table, Rule Lord's word counts," Virion admonished them prematurely.

"Ha, finally more cards!" Ilrune stepped towards Blade as well and grabbed the box from her. "Thanks, now we finally can play with ten people…"

Iolas sighed, "Can you guys keep it down a bit? If you have time to play read a report…" He was annoyed with being stuck with paperwork yet again. Nerrocean was a no-show as every day.

"Well, my student team still has sports, nature and curse class till quarter past. Not my fault I can't do something productive," Zhoron smirked. Iolas just glared at the bunch who simply loved it to tease him about that. Nerrocean had explicitly forbidden anyone to help him with paperwork. He had called it punishment for his courtly screw-up with Queen Stella even after they had fixed it.

"So, ready to transform?" Virion asked the still-irritated Blade. "Everything alright?"

"I had to bring all these so you can play with ten people at once?" Blade asked still confused.

Virion smiled, "Well, you always should play with all your friends. What are card games for if not that."

Blade frowned, "True…" Yet she could easily spot instantly that some cards were used completely differently than supposed to be they had played some rounds with all those cards too after all. "What's a Rule Lord?"

"Well, that kid's game works really shitty with what the cards say. It barely works for three people with that. We had to fix the game. And someone needs to keep track of the rules," Virion answered as he activated the charm for Blade.

"Ah…" Blade was simply dazzled by it, 'That's because it's for two people! What the heck are they doing?!' She looked at Virion, "Have you read the rule book, it's available on the magicWeb, you know? It has all the game rules-" She didn't dare to correct them directly.

"Oh, Blade, it's a kid game, a crappy one. But it wasn't that hard to figure out. A few fixes and it runs smoothly. We'll beat Nerrocean and Votzaak in no time, just you wait," Daeleth commented as he picked out his card deck. They were like gryphons to a cadaver.

"Makes sense…" Blade blinked bewildered, 'They have no fucking clue about that game, who needs the rule book my ass…' She breathed out as she could feel the transformation set in. "Oh, I forgot to ask, Virion. You as head-healer know Elf rituals, right?"

Virion leaned back as the charm was activated and all was good, "Yes, I know quite a lot why?"

"Do you know that ritual that enhances your magic pool?" Blade asked.

"Which one, you need to specify, there are a few hundred," Virion rested against the table Iolas was sitting at.

'Hundreds? So, teacher transformation could be just a nickname as Tasu suggested… we couldn't find anything on it, after all,' Blade scratched her head, "The one with body transformation."

Virion looked at her puzzled, "Blade you got to be more specific, what kind of transformation. One can transform into many things, which also enhances the magic pool."

"No, not things," Blade searched for the right words, "I mean, the one where a person just grows. You know…"

Iolas looked up as he couldn't concentrate with his guys all bickering about cards in the background, "Blade, some Council guards simply can grow bigger through pumping magic into their muscles, it's body enhancement magic in an advanced stage. It's not a ritual. Those take longer and need preparation. And it's still above your level, work on the normal one for now." He stretched his neck.

"What? No, I'm not talking about that. I mean when a person like from my statue grows permanently to like well, yours. You know looks like ageing, like from kid to like grown up," Blade explained and suddenly everyone got really quiet.

"Blade," Virion intensely stared at her, "What did you do?" He instantly flared up magic to check her out. As Iolas rose from his chair and dropped everything. His entire squad went tense even if they hadn't followed the conversation.

"Nothing," Blade tensed up herself back off backwards. 'What's their problem!?'

"Blade." Iolas was super serious now as well, "Where is that person? When did he do it? Did you notice any side effects, altered personality?"

Virion breathed out relieved as he lowered his glowing hand, "Can't find a Black magic trace on her."

"Black magic…" Blade stared at them all, "What do you mean Black magic!?"

"BLADE. CONCENTRADE," Virion admonished her, "Who? Spit it out."

"Pr- Pro-Professor Palladium…" Blade stuttered a bit overwhelmed by the reaction. "Like I don't know twenty years ago?"

Virion deadpan stared at her before he facepalmed, "That was metamorphosis, not a ritual. Don't scare us like that. Palladium lost a bet with his twin brother. He picked the image of their little brother to run around as in the first school year. It's not a Black magic ritual."

"What? He has a twin and another brother…?" Blade was baffled, "But he said he did some teacher transformation ritual… and Avalon said it's like a special reward for the Army of Darkness battle. I just couldn't find anything called a teacher transformation. None of us could... What has Black magic to do with any of that, though?"

Iolas visibly relaxed, "You couldn't find anything about it because nothing like that exists. They were hoodwinking you like all the others that came to ask. Permanent ageing spells and rituals easily end in Black magic. It's against nature's law, obviously. You don't fuck with time. No matter what spell, is that clear? You stay away from that shit. ALWAYS."

"Alright, alright, how was I supposed to know he lost a bet," Blade still felt a bit awkward they still were all trying to read her if she was lying or not. 'But Rise said, that Stella… Palladium was shy and no one listened to him…It's one thing to change appearance… but why play shy? That's unlike Palladium.'

Virion shook his head and went back to the couch table as people were picking the best cards like crazy and he had to make a deck for himself as well, "Don't you have a Cloud Tower mission to get to?"

"Yes… Iolas, did you ever meet any of Palladium's brothers?" Blade asked super intrigued.

"Hm… sure. I met them both. Why? Need some gossip for school? I think you have more than enough," Iolas sat down.

"As if I were to gossip," Blade crossed her arms offended, "No, I was just wondering what kind of people they are. Palladium is so much like…hmm, you guys, somewhat."

"That's because Palladium is a member of the Yaggdronus Order. Originally, he wanted to stay just for a year because Faragonda asked Master Aithlin for a Professor substitute as the one she picked out had to decline on short notice," Iolas elaborated a bit.

"Palladium was a Council guard?" Blade frowned. 'He is good, but combat wise not their level.'

"No, not everyone from the Yaggdronus Order makes the cut for Council guard. There are a lot of other branches. He would have made the cut eventually with one or two more centuries. But he found a different calling as Professor, I think it suits him well. He was and is always quick to explain and break concepts down to make anyone understand them," Iolas reminisced.

Ararel looked up, "If I recall correctly, he was super eager on becoming a Council guard. I think it's better this way. He would have been wasted as a guard. Maybe that's why Master Aithlin asked him to do the job. He always reroutes talents on the right track." He chuckled to himself.

"Hm, so how is his little brother or his twin? What are they like?" Blade asked after getting a lot of information she never had expected to get. This indeed was kinda interesting it was hard to find information on this generally.

"Well, Palladium's twin brother is an accomplished biologist and one of the best healers, he is one of many who take care of our Order's herb gardens, truly serine, I'd say. The little brother, on the other hand, has recently taken an interest in the techno-magic field I believe. His character, well he is only a hundred and twentyish, so like all young elves, eager to prove himself yet shy," Iolas picked up his pen and the next report.

"Shy?" Blade asked confused, "How can one be shy if they are a hundred years old…"

Thallan laughed, "Easy, a hundred years is like being a teenager, he barely would be considered older than you. Elves first study and become good at something before they leave Yaggdrasor. And all Elves are diligent students who follow their teachers to the tee. Unlike some unruly Fairy," He gave her a side glance. "So, unless an Elf was off-planet at least once to build character and confidence…see the world, well… it's a cultural shock and that's, to put it mildly. Being that young isn't something I want to go back to."

"Yeah, just imagen we at Red Fountain at that age… classmates would have walked right over us," Zhoron snickered.

Blade shook her head, "What? But with a hundred years… your swordplay would be-"

"Doesn't matter, drillmasters on Yaggdrasor are at least a thousand years old and that goes for all teachers. They don't need some one-hundred-year-old kid to be all cocky they simply need them to learn their shit and listen. Humans work differently, it would be too frustrating for them. Psychologically speaking humans build their personality and confidence much earlier. If I ask my little sister to draw who she'll become when she grows up page will stay empty. Ask her to draw the flower at the window you think you went to the copy shop and she's fifty-three."

Blade was weirded out, "Wait fifty-three means like around eight years… You mean she never said something like I want to be Fairy? Or she never has drawn something like herself on a spider dragon with two dog heads, a magical sword as long as the skyscraper in the picture on her way to rescue a prince from the moon? Or something crazy like that?"

"Still have that drawing?" Zhoron smirked amused. "Would make for a wonderful thesis paper. Is it coloured?"

"Yes. What. - Nooo… it was just a random example," Blade was so flustered and nothing could hide that. 'Why the heck did I mention that one?!' Trevan, her father, had hung it up at the fridge when she had drawn it and ever since it had stayed there. He loved that picture so much.

"That explains a lot…" Ararel snorted like the rest.

"Guys, be nice. She just missed her father because he was on nightshift guard duties…" Iolas admonished his team, while also joining the fun a bit.

"Ooooh, good theory… ever had a dog?" Zhoron asked straight away.

"Play your stupid card game… get your missed youth back," Blade growled ready to storm out of there.

"So, that's a no on the dog, right?" Thallan eyed her super entertained it was so easy to tease her sometimes. "Well, not all can be that rich, Zenith is expensive." The Elves still were all chuckling.

"…Have a nice…day…" Blade ripped the door open just to find Councillor Gadiel in front of it who was floating some crates behind him, with the Lunasteel company sigil on them. 'More new bracelets, nice, that were three million well spent.'